ENGLISH TEXTS where these days. It’ s a real joy to be associated.
G. What is Camille’ s main quality, and her flaws?
P. P. Camille is definitely hardworking. And that’ s essential to run a business, especially in this profession. As for her flaws, we all have them, and it’ s with experience that you correct your mistakes.
G. While the Peltier silks regularly stand out over jumps, they have also shone in trotting racing recently thanks to Matisse du Pont. How did that story begin?
P. P. As I had sold half of a thoroughbred, Modus Operendi, to Jean-Michel Bazire, he found me a trotter, Matisse du Pont. This colt won at Vincennes this winter in our colours. It’ s really pleasing. Moreover, the training centre at La Chapelle-d’ Aligné( 72), where we are based, was a training centre for trotters before I arrived. And my grandfather, Pierre, started with trotters in country races before coming across a very good thoroughbred named U Master. If he had found a good trotter, perhaps I’ d be training in trotting racing!
G. As the daughter of a trainer, you must have discovered horses very early, right?
Camille Peltier. Indeed, I got my first pony at the age of three. I was always with my father as a child, and I started with eventing until I was 16, before riding in amateur riders’ races. I quickly felt the excitement in the stands thanks to horses like Décétia or As d’ Atout. I also clearly remember Imposant’ s Anjou Loire Challenge: I was just a kid and already crying with stress halfway through the race.
G. Why did you decide to go into partnership with your father?
C. P. I always wanted to become a trainer, but at first I wanted to set up on my own. I had even looked at a few yards. One day, Dad told me it would be a shame not to join forces. I hesitated, but then I took the plunge.
G. Isn’ t it risky for family harmony to work in partnership with your father?
C. P. It can be, especially since we both have strong characters. I arrived with new ideas and he was used to training on his own. It was a bit complicated at first in an unfavourable context, and there were a few clashes. Fortunately, my mother was there, as well as our head lad, Olivier Cacquevel. Over time, my father learned to give my space.
G. What are your father’ s main qualities?
C. P. He had the intelligence to share and to see things as a team, which not everyone is capable of. That open-mindedness isn’ t always easy.
G. |
And his flaws? |
C. P. |
He can be loud, but he’ s |
not resentful and he knows how to question himself, even if not immediately. He’ s able to weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes he lacks filters and isn’ t always very diplomatic.
G. What does your organization look like, outside the Pau meeting?
C. P. I’ m in the yard at 5:30 a. m.: I feed the horses and then muck out the boxes with my team. I ride all morning while he takes care of entries. We discuss the different pieces of work over coffee. Dad maintains the track and watches the horses’ exercises on foot. That gives us two viewpoints with two different perceptions. It’ s interesting and complementary.
G. How does communication with your owners work?
C. P. We generally have our own regular owners. Longstanding clients naturally communicate with my father. I mainly take care of foreign owners, but not exclusively. We communicate regularly via WhatsApp messages. It’ s essential to keep owners informed about their horses.
G. How are tasks divided during the winter?
C. P. Dad takes care of the youngsters at the yard while I’ m in Pau. When I was little and he was doing the meetings, we joined him in Pau during the holidays with my mother and my younger sisters. I also spent winters working for Guy Chérel. Pau
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